A HAVE-a-go hero was run over and smashed in the face with a bottle as he tried to confront joyriders terrorising his neighbourhood.

John Gallagher, from Tarves Walk in Openshaw village was left with a bloodied and broken nose and severe bruising in the terrifying incident, at around 10.45pm on Saturday.

His wife had returned from a friend's house a couple of doors away to warn him to stay inside but when he heard a car skid right outside his door he feared for the safety of his teenage grandchildren, who live on the same street, and went to investigate.

The car screeched away but knowing that it would be forced to come back the same way Mr Gallagher waited. The car passed him again but a second vehicle then appeared, engine revving.

Mr Gallagher said it drove right at him and, according to neighbours, he was flung into the air. His shoes were later found on the other side of the street.

As he staggered to his knees the passenger got out, swore at him and then smashed him in the face with a beer bottle, breaking his nose.

He required hospital treatment and was left with extensive bruising to his left side, a grazed leg, damaged ankle and skin missing from three of his toes.

Mr Gallagher, who is still coming to terms with the recent deaths of his mother, father and sister, said the incident had left him shaken and in great pain.

He said: "It's disgusting what they've done to me and the way they put people's lives at risk.

"If they had come 15 minutes earlier one of my neighbours who uses a wheelchair was coming back from the shops and they could easily have killed her.

"They can't have any respect for other people."

But, in spite of his injuries, Mr Gallagher told the Advertiser he wouldn't think twice about doing it again.

It is not the first time the 51-year-old has put himself at risk to intervene - in 1981 he needed 84 stitches after he was slashed with a knife as he tried to help a teenager who was attacked in a nightclub.

Mr Gallagher, who is being supported by his family, added: "Even if my grandchildren didn't live in this street I would still have gone out. There were quite a few kids still out and any of them could have been killed."

He said he hoped that the incident would not mark a return to the 'old days' when the neighbourhood was plagued with joyriders, having enjoyed relative calm in the last few years.

However, it comes just a week after residents in Colliery Street, Clayton, spoke of concerns that their areas was tuning into 'Brands Hatch'.

In a statement to the Advertiser police confirmed they were investigating the incident, thought to have involved a Vauxhall Corsa.

A spokesman said: "Two cars were recovered nearby shortly after the incident and are currently being forensically examined.

"No one has been arrested in connection with the incident and police will be speaking to the victim again to retrieve a full statement."

The front seat passenger has been described as white, of skinny build, aged about 17 years, scruffy looking with a small moustache. He was wearing a dark baseball cap, dark tracksuit top and dark trousers.

Investigations into the incident are ongoing and anyone with any further information is asked to contact Grey Mare Lane police station on 0161 856 3503 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.